§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what calculations she has made of the change in the public moneys expended in the foot and mouth disease areas during the outbreak; and what that sum would have been had no outbreak occurred. [24385]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Chancellor's pre-Budget report shows that the Government are spending an additional £2.7 billion to tackle foot and mouth disease (FMD) and its implications for the rural economy. This includes the cost in compensation paid to farmers affected by FMD and additional support to the rural economy.
It is not possible to estimate the total public moneys that would have been spent in FMD areas in the absence of the outbreak.